This work contains stunning creative ideas for decking, flooring and surfaces; screens, walls and boundaries; constructions; furniture and containers. It serves as a unique and stylish guide to contemporary hard landscaping for gardens, courtyards and terraces, using stone, wood, concrete, glass, metals, clay, synthetics and organic materials. It includes information about how to make the most of ornamental features including paving materials, tiles and mosaics; arches and pergolas; bridges and steps; boxes, pots and planters; statues and sculptures and garden lighting. Joan Clifton is a professional horticulturalist with a strong sense of the importance of bringing order and architectural style to bear on what could otherwise be an unruly mass of vegetation. With its inspirational photographs and practical advice, this is the perfect source book for those wanting new ideas to transform their garden jungle into a work of art that will meet their needs perfectly. Good garden design - expert landscaping and careful furnishing - gives it form and shape, creating an outdoor living space with atmosphere, style and visual impact. Creating a unified look is a vital part of a successful garden, whether one is aiming for an effect of elegant formality or relaxed simplicity. This innovative volume also explores the character of materials available for outdoor construction. Natural materials such as stone, wood and clay, and composites such as concrete, glass, metals and the new synthetics, are described and explained, highlighting their suitability for projects throughout the garden.